This potential trade between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros would have MLB spinning.
The Atlanta Braves need to take action, and fast. While predicting what general manager Alex Anthopoulos will do next is nearly impossible, finding ways to improve this already competitive team is worth considering. With the New York Mets adding former Washington Nationals star Juan Soto back into the division, Atlanta must stay competitive.
Asking Anthopoulos to make moves according to your preferences is like trying to herd cats—good luck with that. However, there’s one upcoming free-agent target that I’d love to see in the Braves’ outfield, potentially for more than just one season: Houston Astros all-star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who will hit free agency in 2026. Anthopoulos is known for extending players he acquires via trade…
To land Kyle Tucker, Atlanta would likely need to package at least two of its top prospects along with Jarred Kelenic. While Kelenic is a highly talented player, his performance has been inconsistent, and he can be quite streaky as an outfielder. Since the Braves are unwilling to trade Hurston Waldrep, they could offer AJ Smith-Shawver instead. To further sweeten the deal, they could include Drake Baldwin, making it a trio of prospects heading to Houston.
With Tucker on board, Atlanta’s starting outfield would feature Tucker, Michael Harris II, and Ronald Acuña Jr. once he returns.
How the Atlanta Braves can put together a trade package for Kyle Tucker
Every MLB team tends to have a few regular trade partners. While trades can happen with any team at any time, it’s generally less problematic to strike a deal with a team from the opposite league. The Braves have frequently made deals with teams like the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels in recent years, likely because their front offices have similar backgrounds and approaches to team building.
For Atlanta, acquiring Kyle Tucker would be a key move to make this offseason a success. The idea of Alex Anthopoulos extending Tucker immediately upon his arrival makes a lot of sense, especially considering his history of securing long-term deals with players like Matt Olson and Sean Murphy after trades. Tucker’s power bat would be a great addition, but his defensive range in the outfield is also a major asset—something manager Brian Snitker would greatly value.
Of course, it takes two teams to make a trade happen. Houston, despite a rough start to last season and a managerial change following Dusty Baker’s retirement, remains a playoff-caliber team. The Astros have been one of the best-run organizations in baseball for nearly a decade, and while Atlanta beat them in the World Series, Houston has a more recent championship ring.
Tucker to Atlanta would certainly generate a lot of excitement in Braves Country, but the key will be securing an extension to make it a long-term fit.
